60% increase in attacks on journalists in Pakistan in last one year, report
According to "Pakistan Press Freedom" report, 140 attacks against journalists in Pakistan over an 11-month period showed that 13 incidents occurred in a month, which means that freedom of press was violated almost every other day
At least 140 incidents of threats and attacks against journalists, media professionals and media organizations have been reported in Pakistan over the past year, according to a report published on Sunday, accounting for 60 percent of attacks on journalists during the year. There has been an annual increase of more than
According to the “Annual Pakistan Press Freedom” report released by the media rights monitoring organization “Freedom Network”, Islamabad is the most dangerous place for journalism in Pakistan, as the city of power has 40 to 56 percent. There have been incidents in which actions have been taken against journalists.
According to the report of “Freedom Network”, out of 35 (25 percent) cases of violation are related to Punjab, followed by 32 (23 percent) cases reported in Sindh.
The report, released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, said the country’s media environment had become dangerous and more violent in recent months.
Between May 2022 and March 2023, the number of attacks increased by 63 percent to 140 from 86 in 2021-22, the report said.
According to the report, Islamabad has emerged as the most dangerous place with 56 cases out of 140. The released report stated that at least 5 journalists were killed during this period.
Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak said, “The increase in violence against journalists is disturbing and requires urgent attention.”
Iqbal Khattak added that “attacks on free journalism prevent access to essential information, which is particularly harmful during ongoing political and economic crises when the public cannot be trusted to understand and respond to issues.” News is needed”.
Iqbal Khattak says, “It is ironic that Pakistan became the first country in Asia to enact legislation regarding the protection of journalists in 2021, but even after a year and a half, the federal and Sindh laws for the protection of journalists are still in effect.” This has not been helpful for journalists, leading to increased violence against them.
Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to urgently fulfill his pledge made at an international conference on November 2, 2022 in Islamabad on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. to be implemented accordingly, subject to notification to the required Safety Commission. So that the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, which was a bill passed jointly by Parliament, could help journalists. Due to absence of a commission, crimes against journalists are increasing.
He also urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to equip his notified Provincial Safety Commission under the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act 2021 with resources to help journalists and protect them in the province. Impunity can be empowered to fight against crimes.
One violation every two days
According to the report, 140 attacks against journalists in Pakistan over an 11-month period showed that 13 incidents occurred in a month, which means that freedom of the press was violated almost every other day.
